PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is intensifying its efforts to entice visitors from the world’s most populous nation, with arrivals from India hitting an 80% increase this year.
Tourism receipts have seen a considerable rise, thanks to promotional efforts, with an 80.2% rise in Indian visitors from January to April compared with the same period last year, said Tourism Malaysia director-general Manoharan Periasamy (pic).
In the first four months of this year, the number of Indian tourists visiting Malaysia surged to 296,594, compared to 164,566 during the same period in 2023.
“The increase is notable,” he said, citing examples of the popularity of destinations like Kuala Lumpur and Genting Highlands among Indian travellers.
“They enjoy our city resorts and the shopping and cultural experiences.
“From theme parks and beaches to local culture and cuisine, we provide it all.
“And we have seen more of them venturing to Sabah and Sarawak,” Manoharan said in an interview.
The increase in the number of tourists from India came about after Malaysia’s announcement that visa-free entry would be granted to citizens of India for stays of up to 30 days.
The visa exemption is from Dec 1, 2023, to Dec 31, 2024.
With a population of about 1.4 billion, India overtook China as the world’s most populous country last year.
Manoharan said Tourism Malaysia is actively drawing in Indian travellers with a series of roadshows.
“Tourism Malaysia kicked off its first roadshow in India, alongside the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) across five cities from Jan 30 to Feb 7, 2023.
“The roadshow started in Chennai, followed by Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Ahmedabad,” he added.
Manoharan said the second roadshow to India in 2023 was held in six second-tier cities such as Amritsar, Lucknow, Nagpur, Pune, Goa and Kochi.
“The roadshows were to showcase Malaysia ahead of the Visit Malaysia Year in 2026.
“We’re not just focusing on general tourism but also offering specific incentives for meetings and weddings.”
For now, Manoharan said partnerships with airlines Scoot and Indigo and travel companies like MakeMyTrip and Thomas Cook are part of Tourism Malaysia’s strategy to maintain a steady stream of visitors from India.
“We’re responding to the interests and preferences of Indian tourists, ensuring they can enjoy a variety of experiences during their stay here,” he said.
These targeted initiatives, said Manoharan, underscore Tourism Malaysia’s dedication to attracting Indian tourists.“The mission is to pave the way for sustained growth in tourism between the two countries,” he added.In the first quarter of 2024 alone, Indian tourist arrivals reached 213,214, a substantial increase from the 110,883 recorded in the first quarter of 2023, representing a 92.29% rise.The average spending per capita by Indian tourists also saw an uptick.
The average spending in the first quarter of 2024 was RM5,186.27.
This was up from RM4,564.40 in Q1 2023, reflecting a 13.62% increase.
Overall, the total receipts from Indian tourists in Q1 2024 amounted to RM1,105.78mil, compared to RM506.12mil in Q1 2023, showcasing a remarkable increase of 118.48%.
These statistics highlight the growing importance of the Indian market to Malaysia’s tourism industry.
